Enveloping element for a building

ABSTRACT

Described is a covering element for buildings comprising at least one, preferably fixedly arranged support apparatus and at least one film pillow that displays two outer film layers, between which is formed at least one hollow space closed in a gastight manner and containing gas, especially air, and displays a fastening section in which the two outer film layers are connected to each other and by which section the film pillow is anchored to the support apparatus. The special aspect of this covering element for buildings consists in the fact that at least one thermally insulating element is arranged in the fastening section of the film pillow and in the fact that the two outer film layers are spaced apart from each other by the thermally insulating element and thereby rest upon the latter.

[0001] The invention relates to a covering element for buildingscomprising at least one, preferably fixedly arranged support apparatusand at least one film pillow that displays two outer film layers,between which is formed at least one hollow space closed in a gastightmanner and containing gas, especially air, and displays a fasteningsection in which the two outer film layers are connected to each otherand by which section the film pillow is anchored to the supportapparatus.

[0002] Such covering elements for buildings are known and, among otherapplications, have long been used to form film roof systems as well asfilm facade systems. Film roof systems and film facade systems are usedespecially in the construction of shopping centers, gymnasia, amusementparks, and other commercial buildings for which a conventional roofingis not recommended, whether for structural or economic reasons.

[0003] The film pillow is formed through at least two outer film layersthat are connected to each other in a gastight manner, usually weldedtogether along their edges, in order to form between the layers a hollowspace closed in a gastight manner. During the production of the filmpillow, gas, especially air, is injected into this hollow space, wherebythe outer film layers are correspondingly tautened and the film pillowachieves its intended shape. The gas injected into the film pillowserves not only the shaping of the film pillow, but also for thermalinsulating, which constitutes one of the advantages of the film system.

[0004] The support apparatus normally consists of a metal frame with aprofiled cross section on which the film pillow is anchored via itsfastening section. In this, the film layers are pressed together in theregion of the anchoring and welded to each other. By this means, a goodanchoring of the film layers and thus of the film pillow they form isensured. However, it has become evident in practice that in the regionof the anchoring the insulating action of the film system is essentiallycompletely lost, since at that location the insulating air cushion islacking.

[0005] It is therefore the task of the present invention to improve abuilding covering element of the type specified in the introduction suchthat a thermally insulating effect is maintained even in the region ofthe anchoring by means of the support apparatus.

[0006] This task is accomplished, in a building covering element of thetype specified in the introduction, in that arranged in the fasteningsection of the film pillow is at least one thermally insulating element,and that the two outer film layers are spaced apart from each otherthrough the thermally insulating element, the layers bearing on thelatter.

[0007] Through the integration, according to the invention, of at leastone thermally insulating element, which holds the two outer film layersat a distance from each other even in the fastening region, the coldbridge that previously developed is eliminated and the thermallyinsulating effect of the gas cushion is extended into the fasteningsection. Likewise, the thermally insulating element provided accordingto the invention itself contributes to the thermal insulating betweenthe two outer film layers in the region of the anchoring, so that thethermally insulating element itself prevents the forming of a coldbridge.

[0008] A further advantage of the invention consists in the fact thatthe film layers, together with the thermally insulating element lyingbetween the film layers, can be connected to each other in anappropriate gastight manner already during production in the factory,preferably welded together.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the supportapparatus displays a contact section for the contact with the fasteningsection of the film pillow, the fastening section of the film pillow,together with the thermally insulating element arranged in the latter,can be brought into contact with the contact section. In a furtherdevelopment of this embodiment, in which the contact section displaystwo clamping sections between which the fastening section can beclamped, the fastening section of the film pillow, together with thethermally insulating element arranged in the latter, can be clampedbetween the clamping sections. Normally, the clamping sections areformed of metal sections.

[0010] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, in which inthe fastening section of the film pillow the outer film layers areconnected directly to each other at a connection point, preferablywelded, the thermally insulating element is arranged inside the hollowspace of the film pillow adjacent to the connection point. Here, betweenthe connection point and the adjacently arranged thermally insulatingelement, an additional, small gas cushion is usually formed, whichcushion likewise has a thermally insulating effect. Moreover, in thisarrangement the thermally insulating element prevents a cold bridge fromthe connection point to the gas-filled hollow space of the film pillow,so that the thermally insulating element exhibits an adequate insulatingeffect not only between the two outer film layers, but also at theoutward-lying connection point.

[0011] In a further, at the present time, especially preferredembodiment, in which a piping film is attached to the fastening sectionof the film pillow, which piping film is connected to a piping cableoutside the film pillow for fastening to the support apparatus, thepiping film also encloses the thermal insulating element. Normally, thepiping film also encloses the piping cable, with the two ends of thepiping film being connected, preferably welded, to the film layers atthe connection point.

[0012] Normally, the fastening section of the film pillow is anchored tothe support apparatus at the connection point.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, in which the fasteningsection forms a peripheral, flange-like edge section of the film pillow,the thermally insulating element forms a peripheral element.

[0014] Appropriately, the thermally insulating element is designed as abridge.

[0015] The thermally insulating element should be connected to,preferably welded with, the outer film layers. For this purpose, forthermal separation a separating section, which consists e.g. of EPDM[ethylene propylene diene monomer], rubber, fiber materials, or otherpoorly heat-conducting materials, is placed inside the peripheral,edge-terminating sealing between the film layers and welded togethersuch that a slipping is not possible.

[0016] In the following, a preferred embodiment example of the inventionis explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.These show:

[0017]FIG. 1: schematically and in cross section, a detail of a filmroofing system with a support apparatus and segments of film pillowsfastened to the latter at both sides

[0018]FIG. 2: a detail representation of a segment of a film pillow forthe film roofing system shown in section in FIG. 1

[0019] Shown in FIG. 1 is a portion of a film roofing system thatconsists of a multiplicity of film pillows arranged adjacent to oneanother. In FIG. 1, for example two film pillows 2 are representedschematically as arranged next to each other; here, for reasons ofsimplicity and clarity, reference numerals are given only for theelements shown in the left half of FIG. 1 due to the symmetry of therepresentation.

[0020] The film pillows 2 represented in this embodiment example displayan upper film 4 and a lower film 6, which enclose a hollow space 8 in agastight manner. Air is injected into the hollow space 8, whereby theupper film 4 and the lower film 6 are correspondingly tautened and lendthe film pillow 2 the desired shape. Accordingly, the upper film 4 andthe lower film 6 form between themselves an air cushion in the hollowspace 8. In the represented embodiment example, the film pillows 2 alsodisplay a middle film 10, which is provided for structural reasons anddivides the hollow space 8 into an upper and a lower half.

[0021] The film pillows 2 display an edge section 2 a that is peripheraland protrudes in a flange-like manner, by means of which edge sectionthe pillows are anchored to the support apparatus 12. In the representedembodiment example, one film pillow 2 is anchored to each side of thesupport apparatus 12 and the support apparatus 12 consists of a coversection 14 and a base section 16.

[0022] In the edge section 2 a of the film pillow, at one peripheralconnection point 2 b are welded together the ends 4 a, 6 a, and 10 a ofthe upper film 4, the lower film 6, and the middle film 10. Arranged onthe bottom of the clamp segment 14 a of the cover section 14 is asealing bar 18, preferably consisting of neoprene and essentiallyrectangular in cross section, and, below the latter, on top of the clampsegment 16 a of the base section 16 is arranged a sealing layer 20,preferably consisting of EPDM; between the sealing bar 18 and thesealing layer 20 are situated the ends 4 a, 6 a, 10 a of the films 4, 6,10, which ends are welded together at the connection point 2 b. With theaid of structure (not shown), the cover section 14 is pressed againstthe base section 16, whereby the welded-together ends 4 a, 6 a, 10 a, ofthe films 4, 6, 10 at the connection point 2 b make a sealing clampingcontact with the upper sealing bar 18 and the lower sealing layer 20.

[0023] In the direction of the outer edge 14 b, the clamp segment 14 aof the cover section 14 displays an offset 14 c, at the bottom of whichis arranged a further sealing layer 22, likewise consisting preferablyof EPDM. Through the offset 14 c exists a larger gap or intermediatespace between the clamp sections 14 a and 16 a of the two sections 14and 16. At this location a thermally insulating element 24 is arrangedin the edge section 2 a of the film pillow 2, being arranged inside thefilm pillow 2 between the upper film 4, on the one hand, and the layerformed in common at this location by the lower film 6 and the middlefilm 10. Thus, the upper film 4 lies on the top of the thermallyinsulating element 24 and the film layer formed in common by the lowerfilm 6 and the middle film 10 lies against the bottom of the thermallyinsulating element 24. Here, the films 4, 6, 10 are welded together withthe thermally insulating element 24. In the represented embodimentexample the thermal insulating element 24 has a rectangular crosssection and consists of a peripheral bridge.

[0024] As can be further seen in FIG. 1, the edge section 2 a of thefilm pillow 2, with the region incorporating the thermally insulatingelement 24, is likewise arranged between the clamp section 14 a, 16 a ofthe sections 14, 16 of the support apparatus 12, namely in the region ofthe offset 14 c of the cover section 14. Here, the arrangement formed bythe films 4, 6, 10 and the thermal insulating element 24 is situatedagainst the upper sealing layer 22 attached to the bottom of the coversection 14 and against the sealing layer 20 sitting on top of the basesection 16, and is thus bordered by these two sealing layers 20, 22.

[0025] The thermally insulating element 24, which should consist, forexample, of EPDM, rubber neoprene, fibrous materials, or other poorlyheat-conducting materials, serves to thermally insulate in the edgesection 2 a of the film pillow 2 the air cushion contained in the hollowspace 8, toward the outward side as well as toward the support apparatus12, and to prevent undesired cold bridges between the films 4, 6, 10 andthe sections 14, 16 of the support apparatus 12. As can be seen in FIG.1, between the connection point 2 b where the ends of the films 4, 6, 10are welded together and the thermally insulating element 24 that isspaced apart from this connection point 2 b in the direction of thehollow space 8, on the one hand, and between the upper film 4 and thefilm layer formed in common by the lower film 6 and the middle film 10,on the other hand, is formed an additional, smaller hollow space 8 a, inwhich an air cushion is likewise contained and also provides a thermallyinsulating effect. In order to further improve the thermally insulatingeffect of the entire arrangement, the sections 14 and 16 areadditionally provided with thermally insulating measures. Normally, thesections 14, 16 consist of hollow sections of aluminum into whichinsulating material is inserted.

[0026] In the represented embodiment example, the anchoring of the filmpillow 2 to the support apparatus takes place via this connection point2 b, as the load is taken up mainly by a piping cable 26 that rests in ahollow space 12 a formed between the two sections 14, 16. For fasteningof the piping cable 26 to the film pillow 2, a piping film 28 isprovided, which film surrounds, on the one hand, the piping cable 26and, on the other hand, the thermally insulating element 24, as can beseen especially in FIG. 2. For this purpose, the piping film 28 liesbetween the upper film 4 and the thermally insulating element 24, on theone hand, and between the thermally insulating element 24 and the filmlayer formed in common by the lower film 6 and the middle film 10, onthe other hand, and moreover, in order to surround the piping cable 28,projects outwardly in a lateral fashion from the edge section 2 a of thefilm pillow 2 at the connection point 2 b, so that the piping cable 26surrounds the film pillow 2 outside of the edge section 2 a. Preferably,the ends of the piping film 28 (not shown in detail in the figures) arewelded together with the ends of the films 4, 6, 10 at the connectionpoint 2 b.

[0027] In the above described, preferred embodiment example, it is amatter of a film roof element of a film roofing system. The describedstructure can just as well be used for the construction of a film facadeelement of a film facade system, or for the construction of anothercovering element for buildings.

1. Covering element for buildings comprising at least one, preferablyfixedly arranged support apparatus (12) and at least one film pillow (2)that displays two outer film layers (4, 6), between which is formed atleast one hollow space (8) closed in a gastight manner and containinggas, especially air, and displays a fastening section (2 a) in which thetwo outer film layers (4, 6) are connected to each other and by whichsection the film pillow (2) is anchored to the support apparatus (12),characterized in that arranged in the fastening section (2 a) of thefilm pillow (2) is at least one thermally insulating element (24) andthat the two outer film layers (4, 6) are spaced apart from each otherby the thermally insulating element (24) and thereby rest upon thelatter.
 2. Covering element for buildings according to claim 1, in whichthe support apparatus (12) displays a contact section (14 a, 16 a) forthe contact with the fastening section (2 a) of the film pillow (2),characterized in that the fastening section (2 a) of the film pillow(2), with the thermally insulating element (24) arranged in the latter,can be brought into contact with the contact section (14 a, 16 a). 3.Covering element for buildings according to claim 2, in which thecontact section displays two clamping sections (14 a, 16 a), betweenwhich the fastening section (2 a) can be clamped, characterized in thatthe fastening section (2 a) of the film pillow (2), with the thermallyinsulating element (24) arranged in the latter, can be clamped betweenthe clamping sections (14 a, 16 a).
 4. Covering element for buildingsaccording to claim 3, characterized in that the clamping sections (14 a,16 a) are formed of metal sections (14, 16).
 5. Covering element forbuildings according to at least one of the previous claims, in which inthe fastening section (2 a) of the film pillow (2) the outer film layers(4, 6) are directly connected to each other, preferably welded together,at a connection point (2 b), characterized in that the thermallyinsulating element (24) is arranged adjacently to the connection point(2 b) inside the hollow space (8) of the film pillow (2).
 6. Coveringelement for buildings according to at least one of the claims 1 through5, in which attached to the fastening section (2 a) of the film pillow(2) is a piping film (28), which is connected outside the film pillow(2) to a piping cable (26) for anchoring to the support apparatus (12),characterized in that the piping film (28) surrounds the thermallyinsulating element (24).
 7. Covering element for buildings according toclaims 5 and 6, in which the piping film (28) surrounds the piping cable(26), characterized in that the two ends of the piping film (28) areconnected, preferably welded, to the film layers (4, 6, 10) at theconnection point (2 b).
 8. Covering element for buildings according toclaim 5 or 7, characterized in that the fastening section (2 a) of thefilm pillow (2) is fixed to the support apparatus (12) by the connectionpoint (2 b).
 9. Covering element for buildings according to at least oneof the previous claims, in which the fastening section (2 a) forms aperipheral, flange-like edge section of the film pillow (2),characterized in that the thermally insulating element (24) forms aperipheral element.
 10. Covering element for buildings according to atleast one of the previous claims, characterized in that the thermallyinsulating element (24) is designed as a bridge.
 11. Covering elementfor buildings according to at least one of the previous claims,characterized in that the thermally insulating element (24) is connectedto, preferably welded to, the outer film layers (4, 6).